On August 24, Goodwill’s Nurse-Family Partnership program hosted a graduation celebration honoring the growth and achievements of its clients in St. Joe, Elkhart, and LaPorte counties. The St. Joseph County Public Library filled with new parents and little ones who were greeted by many Goodwill nurses that have helped them get here.
Goodwill’s Nurse-Family Partnership Program began in November of 2011 and has since grown exponentially throughout Indiana. This program is important to first-time mothers living at or below the poverty line in Indiana to ensure they receive necessary prenatal care, navigate pregnancy, delivery, and help them feel comfortable asking their physicians questions they may have. This program allows nurses to work directly with expectant mothers and their physicians with health and safety as a main goal.
On Saturday, over 40 graduates gathered to celebrate themselves, their healthy children, and one another. The room filled with smiling faces and giggles both big and small.
"Our clients are with our program for about 2 1/2 years. It starts during pregnancy so the nurse they’re paired with can support their whole journey. It also ensures our clients have the resources needed for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. We continue to support clients with any goals they have for the next two years after birth. The program is completely voluntary, but when the child turns 2, we hold this graduation ceremony to celebrate all the family’s accomplishments during their time with us,” Director of the Nurse-Family Partnership Program Rochelle Andruszkiewicz said.
Families gathered and hugs between them and their nurses were exchanged. Strong relationships and bonds have made this moment all the more worthwhile.
"I started with the Nurse-Family Partnership in 2022,” Nurse-Family Partnership Program client Josie Owens said. “We were assigned to Rochelle, who completely changed our lives from the very beginning."
The nurses truly make an impact on the lives of these families. For some who aren’t sure what to ask, how to feel, or what is going to happen next, their nurses work with them one on one and empower them to ask their physicians the necessary questions.
"From the moment you enroll in Goodwill’s program, they equip you with some very vital tools and resources to monitor yourself. They show you how to take your own blood pressure, how to monitor your weight, etc. It was as simple as asking for help and knowing that they are there for us and could help us learn to advocate for ourselves,” Owens said.
For the Nurse-Family Partnership Program, all goals are created equal. Every nurse treats their client with compassion, understanding, and provides support throughout the entire length of the program.
To learn more about the Nurse-Family Partnership Program, make a referral, or self refer, call 1-833-879-2229 (BABY) or email nfp@goodwill-ni.org.
For more information about Goodwill and the services they provide, visit goodwill-ni.org.
